The 30 best Southern California concerts and festival sets of 2025

Live music is entertainment. Seems obvious, but bear with us a moment.

Concerts are carefree and fun nights with a favorite pop star. An emotional experience under the spell of musical magic. The simple, dumb joy of a mosh pit. A festival community of countless fans in search of the sweet and sublime.

In 2025, we were also reminded of the power of music to heal after the devastation of Pacific Palisades and Altadena when wildfires swept down from the hillsides and canyons and through those communities on Jan. 7.

The superstar-packed Fire Aid benefit concert raised more than $100 million for the Palisades and Eaton wildfire relief on Jan. 30, with artists including Billie Eilish and Dr. Dre, Stevie Wonder and Green Day, Joni Mitchell and No Doubt among the many who donated their talents to the cause.

Add to that the many smaller musical benefit shows held around Southern California to raise money and awareness for the communities that lost so much, and well, live music stepped up to serve so much more.

So let’s all just agree that these wildfire benefit shows, large or small, were collectively the top Southern California concert moments of 2025.

And let music writers Peter Larsen, Holly Alvarado and Charlie Vargas share their Top 10 lists for the best concert or festival moments they saw this year.

Peter Larsen’s Top 10

David Byrne at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles: With Talking Heads, singer David Byrne created a kind of edgy art rock all its own in the late ’70s and ’80s. The concert film “Stop Making Sense” remains as fascinating and fresh as it was when Talking Heads filmed it in Hollywood four decades ago. Now 73, Byrne remains as creative, visually and musically, as ever before. Playing solo songs and Talking Heads classics, his shows at the Dolby were spectacular in every sense of the word and won’t be forgotten by anyone who was there. See the review and photos here.

Lady Gaga at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: With her new album “Mayhem” out just weeks before she headlined Coachella, Lady Gaga introduced her songs in live performance in a wildly creative headlining performance at Coachella. “I wanted to make a romantic gesture to you in this year, in these times,” she said at one point in the show. “I built you an opera house in the desert.” Which, yeah, she did! Gaga brought much the same show to the Kia Forum in July, but its debut on the bigger canvas of Coachella just can’t be topped. See the review and photos here.

Oasis at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena: The Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, managed to stop calling each other names long enough to reunite the iconic Britpop band Oasis, so yeah, pigs can fly, apparently. And thank goodness, too, because rock and roll needs a band and songs like this. Oasis roared through classics such as “Champagne Supernova” and “Wonderwall,” Liam’s sneering vocals remain a thing of beauty, and big brother Noel’s compositions have resoundingly stood the test of time. See the review and photos here.

Chappell Roan at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena: If Chappell Roan’s popstar trajectory launched at Coachella in 2024, it reached outer space with her October show at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, where 40,000 fans turned out for what Roan said was her biggest headlining show ever. A mix of theatrical costumes, drag queen styling, and songs that mix the naughty with the nice, Roan was terrific in her first Southern California show since that career-making Coachella set. See the review and photos here.

Patti Smith at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles: The punk godmother took her debut album “Horses” on tour for its 50th anniversary with a November show in Los Angeles that mixed poetry and passion in an unforgettable performance. The show opened with the album before shifting into songs from across her career, such as “Because the Night,” “Dancing Barefoot,” and the show-closing life-affirming anthem “People Have the Power.” See the review and photos here.

My Chemical Romance at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles: Somehow, My Chemical Romance has become more popular today, 25 years into the band’s career, than ever before. The theatricality of singer Gerard Way and the terrific musicianship of the entire band paid off at Dodger Stadium in July, for which the band recreated its “The Black Parade” album as a dark rock opera. My Chem sold out a pair of shows at Dodger Stadium this year. In 2026, it’s got five nights at the Hollywood Bowl, a new record for the most shows ever in a single run at the historic venue. See the review and photos here.

Robert Plant at the United Theater on Broadway, Los Angeles: At 77, the former Led Zeppelin frontman continues to reinvent his musical legacy in fascinating ways. Long a fan of folk music – go back to those early Zeppelin albums, you’ll see – in the last few decades, he’s embraced his love of British folk and American roots music in a deeply felt series of albums. “Saving Grace,” the album named after his current band, featured beautifully along with a handful of rearranged Led Zeppelin classics in November. See the review and photos here.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena: Nick Cave’s darkly emotional music just gets richer with each new album and tour. At Cruel World Festival in May, he mesmerized a crowd that had been rained on much of the day, warming them up with songs of love and death and all of life’s sorrows and joys. Cruel World and its companion festival, Just Like Heaven, both remain two of the finest days of vintage sounds around. See the review and photos here.

Queens of the Stone Age at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles: Singer Josh Homme and company reinvented themselves on the Catacombs Tour, a mostly acoustic performance that saw the hard rock band deconstruct and reconstruct songs from its catalog for an acoustic show that featured strings and brass. Moody music in a moving performance, Queens have never seemed so magical as they did here. See the review and photos here.

Robbie Krieger at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles: The Doors’ guitarist celebrated the 60th anniversary of the classic Los Angeles band with smaller shows earlier in the year at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, the club where the band first broke out, and a final night at the Greek in October. Krieger’s guitar playing is as strong as ever, and with a host of guests including Billy Idol, John Doe, Perry Farrell and more sitting in, the night was a welcome reminder of the greatness of the Doors. See the preview and photos here.

Holly Alvarado’s Top 10

Tyler, The Creator at Camp Flog Gnaw, Los Angeles: Tyler, The Creator headlined the 10th anniversary of Camp Flog Gnaw with a set that felt intentional, balancing celebration with forward momentum. Performing at Dodger Stadium, Tyler leaned heavily into material from his latest “Don’t Tap The Glass” album while still making space for fan favorites, weaving together eras without losing pace. See the review and photos here. 

Cleo Sol at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles: Cleo Sol transformed the Hollywood Bowl into an intimate, soul-stirring gathering for her Los Angeles headlining debut, delivering a performance rooted in vulnerability. Moving barefoot across the stage and sharing the stories behind her songs, Sol guided the sold-out crowd through moments of reflection while singing “Sunshine” or “Life Will Be.” For one night, her music turned the Bowl into a shared sanctuary, a space where listeners left feeling lighter, held, and deeply moved by the power of community and soul. See the review and photos here. 

Turnstile at Exposition Park, Los Angeles: Turnstile turned Exposition Park into a massive, open-air celebration of hardcore, bringing together fans of all ages for a night rooted in community, movement, and pure release. With a stacked lineup, explosive mosh pits, and moments of unexpected tenderness from disco-ball calm to kids headbanging alongside their parents, the band showed how far hardcore has grown without losing its heart. See the review and photos here.

Sabrina Carpenter at the Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles: Sabrina Carpenter’s third of six sold-out shows at Crypto.com Arena felt equal parts celebration and release as the pop star brought her Short N’ Sweet Tour to Los Angeles under clear skies following days of rain. Blending glossy pop hits with humor, heartfelt reflection and a playful 1970s variety-show aesthetic, Carpenter moved effortlessly through outfit changes, fan-favorite moments and emotional nods to her journey from small clubs to arena stages. See the review and photos here. 

Faye Webster at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles: Faye Webster delivered a moving, full-circle performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall, joining forces with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra to bring “Underdressed at the Symphony” to life. The intimate yet expansive set transformed her quietly emotional songs into sweeping arrangements that filled the hall with warmth, vulnerability, and moments that visibly moved the audience. And yes, tears were flowing this evening. See the review and photos here. 

Robert Glasper at Blue Note, Los Angeles: Robert Glasper opened his Blue Note Los Angeles residency with a late-night set that set the tone for the week ahead. Performing in the club’s intimate space, Glasper leaned into extended improvisation, allowing songs to stretch and evolve rather than follow rigid arrangements. The opening-night energy brought a focused attentiveness from the crowd, with moments of experimentation and loose transitions shaping the set. See the review and photos here. 

Charli XCX at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: Charli XCX delivered one of Coachella 2025’s most talked-about sets, fully leaning into the chaotic momentum of her “Brat” era. The performance moved at a relentless pace, driven by club-ready production and sharp, physical staging that kept the crowd locked in. Surprise guest appearances by Troye Sivan, Lorde and Billie Eilish elevated the set without overshadowing it, reinforcing Charli’s position at the center of pop’s current moment rather than chasing spectacle for its own sake. See the review and photos here. 

Geese at Camp Flog Gnaw, Los Angeles: Geese brought their jagged, art-rock sound to Camp Flog Gnaw during a breakout year, translating the chaos of their recent work into a tight, confrontational live set. Sharp guitar lines and unpredictable shifts gave the performance an edge that stood apart from the festival’s more hip-hop-leaning acts, drawing in curious listeners. After the release of “Getting Killed,” the band’s rapid rise makes sense. This was a set that showed exactly why the momentum feels earned. See the review and photos here. 

Goo Goo Dolls at Stagecoach Festival, Empire Polo Field, Indio: Goo Goo Dolls made their Stagecoach debut count with a nostalgia-driven, hit-packed set that quickly became one of the weekend’s most anticipated crossover performances. Frontman John Rzeznik leaned into crowd connection early, guiding a largely millennial and Gen Z audience through sing-along staples like “Slide,” “Name,” and “Iris,” while reflecting on the band’s longevity and gratitude toward longtime fans. See the review and photos here. 

Jonas Brothers at the Intuit Dome, Inglewood: Jonas Brothers turned their sold-out Intuit Dome stop into a full-circle homecoming, framing the night as a celebration of 20 years shared with fans who quite literally grew up alongside them, because yes, many of us did. The set unfolded like a living scrapbook, blending early deep cuts with later hits, crowd-driven moments and reflections on their journey from writing songs in a New Jersey basement to filling arenas in Los Angeles. See the review and photos here. 

Charlie Vargas’s Top 10

El Alfa at The Peacock Theater, Los Angeles: El Alfa, the King of Dembow, announced in January that his most recent tour would be his last. With it stopping in Los Angeles, I had to try to catch him if this was really it. If you’re not familiar with dembow, it is a genre driven by a brisk tempo, sharp rap bars, and a sticky catchiness that will get anyone moving and dancing. While he did bid farewell, an icon and trailblazer like El Alfa may not entirely disappear, given his legacy in elevating the genre to the world stage. Maybe that’s just me being hopeful. See the review and photos here. 

Snocaps at The Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles: What’s better than one Crutchfield? Two Cutchfields! Allison and Katie Crutchfield dropped a surprise album and announced a small tour at the end of October, marking nearly 15 years since they performed together. Watching the sisters blissfully perform personal songs, titles off their catalogues, and throwback hits was a beautiful experience. To top it off, they were also joined by MJ Lenderman, known for his solo work and as part of the rock outfit Wednesday, along with their producer Brad Cook. See the review and photos here. 

Joey & Brae at The Observatory, Santa Ana: Hip-hop duo Joey & Brae pride themselves on making music that invites people to dance, sing along and even dress up for their shows. When they performed at The Observatory, fans could be heard screaming the lyrics from the parking lot, and there was never any dull moment where the crowd was still from front to back. Their stage presence was commanding and full of energy from start to finish, with a mantra urging people to let loose and bust a move. Read the preview here.

Die Spitz at The Observatory, Santa Ana: One of punk rock’s most exciting up-and-coming acts is Austin, Texas’ all-female group Die Spitz. The band’s latest record, “Something to Consume,” is their best yet, featuring razor-sharp thrash-metal riffs and jagged, punk-fueled chord progressions, with a bit of pop sprinkled in. They have a stage presence to match their production, and their shows often feature members climbing onto bar tops or other equipment while screaming the lyrics of their raw anthems. Read the preview and the review.

Soft Play at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: Liveliness is a fundamental part of punk rock, and the U.K. duo Soft Play does it in a fierce style with just two people onstage, one of whom is drumming standing up. When I was first pitched the band, they were described as having a “snot-nosed” attitude, and that is accurate, but after watching them live, we saw how fun and comedic they could be with their lyrics and stage presence. See the reviews and photos here.

Bob Vylan at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: This year’s festival also featured another U.K. duo upping the ante in the Sonora tent. The punk rock group Bob Vylan, fronted by Bobby and Bobbie Vylan, only needed a drum set and vocals to bring the house down with mosh pits, pogoers, and crowd surfers. Much in line with punk’s anti-authority philosophy, Bob Vylan rails against racism, fascism and income inequality. See the reviews and photos here.

Amyl and the Sniffers at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: Among the many leading Australian acts is Amyl and the Sniffers. The group, fronted by Amy Taylor, is for those who yearn for the days of rock and roll, with a cool exterior and a rebellious spirit. Taylor has the energy and stage presence of icons such as Iggy Pop, combined with the wit of Dolly Parton. See the reviews and photos here.

Clairo at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: Clairo’s performance at Coachella was full of special guests, including an appearance from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and her best friends and collaborators in her side project, Shelly. The production and stage ambiance resembled a vintage studio jam session. Her ethereal vocals, backed by a full band, showcased her vast musical range, melding jazz, pop and R&B. See the reviews and photos here. See the reviews and photos here. 

Ginger Root at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: Indie rock acts often bring a level of creativity to their music videos that borders on artsy and experimental. The Orange County band based in Huntington Beach took that to a whole other level for their performance at Coachella. Ginger Root’s show balanced audio and visuals to produce a unique experience not seen on the festival stages, and its level of sophistication shows how much thought and energy the band put into their performance. See the reviews and photos here. 

Green Day at Coachella, Empire Polo Field, Indio: As a millennial who was first introduced to alternative music in my youth, it was an absolute blast seeing Green Day take the headline slot on one of the days at Coachella. There was just something so moving about seeing the band open the set with “American Idiot” and continue to perform nostalgic hit after hit. See the reviews and photos here.